Effects of attention to emergent phenomena on rule discovery

Hitoshi Terai, Kindai University

Kazuhisa Miwa, Nagoya University

Sho Yokoyama, Kindai University

Souta Fujimura, Kindai University

Gotaro Nakayama, Kindai University

Abstract

In this study, we focused on effects of finding of emergent
phenomena in rule discovery. In the experiment, we used Conway's Game of Life,
which generates high-order phenomena from fundamental rules. Our research
question is to realize the effects of attention to emergent phenomena on finding
the fundamental rules. The two experimental conditions (chaotic and static)
differed only in initial states. In the chaotic condition, the initial state
consisted some Methuselahs, which take long period until they become stable. On
the other hand, in the static condition, the initial condition consisted many
emergent patterns: still lifes and oscillators, which repeat same pattern in
short period. We classified the hypotheses reported by the participants to either
mentioning about emergent phenomena or not. This result revealed that people
might see emergent phenomena not only in the static condition but also in the
chaotic condition, which do not include the emergent patters.